Access to Diverse Seleno-spirocyclohexadienones via Ag(II)-Catalyzed Selenylative ipso-Annulation with Se and Boronic Acids

[Image: see text] An efficient and straightforward synthesis of diversified seleno-azaspiro-2,5-cyclohexadienones from N-(4-methoxy aryl)propiolamides using elemental selenium and boronic acids has been demonstrated. The reaction proceeds through silver-catalyzed oxidative dearomatization in the presence of potassium persulfate (K(2)S(2)O(8)) as the oxidant. Further, this approach was extended to N-(4-methoxy aryl)propiolates and biaryl ynones to access the corresponding selenylated oxospiro-2,5-cyclohexadienones and spiro[5,5]trienones, respectively. The present three-component method offers the diverse substitutions on selenium involving two C–Se and one C–C bond formations.